Knockdown crate.



H. E. CLEMENT.

KNOUKDOWN CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14, 1909.

Patented Dec. 14,

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[NVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIC].

HENRY E. CLEMENT, OF CHERAW, SOUTH CAROLINA.

KNOCKDOWN CRATE.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HENRY E. CLEMENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cheraw, in the county of Chesterfield and State of South Carolina, having invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Crates, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to knock-down shipping crates, and more particularly has in View the provision of a bottom for such crates, which while being securely held in position for use, may nevertheless have such connection with the crate sides as will enable its ready assemblage and knocking down as to meet the conditions required in a practical knock-down crate, and to this end my invention consists in the knock-down crate having the features of construction substantially as hereinafter specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a knock-down crate embodying my invention, the parts being arranged ready for use; Fig. 2 a cross section thereof; and Fig. 3 a detail View in per spective of the bottom.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the crate comprises side and end walls 10 of slatted form, as is common, the sides and ends being hinged at the corners so that they may be readily collapsed and expanded. The bottom 11 is rectangular in form, and its dimensions correspond to the interior dimensions of the crate. Near each end and on both sides the bottom has a hook-shaped hanger 12, which is pivotally connected to the bottom, and preferably the two hangers on opposite sides of the bottom are connected to the same pivot rod or shaft 14:, so that said two hangers, by the manipulation of one, may simultaneously be swung from a position lying alongside the bottom to one at right angles thereto, where they may be caught over the top edge of the lowermost slat of a crate side.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 14, 1809.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

Serial No. 517,733.

As preferably made, a pair of united hangers and the pivot shaft or rod thereof are formed of a single piece of heavy wire, and the same secured to the under side of the bottom by a cross slat or cleat 15 that is grooved on its side next the bottom to pro vide a bearing or journal for the pivot rod. lVhen the crate is in a knock-down position, the hangers are turned alongside the edge of the bottom, as illustrated in Fig. 8.

It will be evident that my bottom connection, besides fulfilling all the conditions required in a knock-down crate as to facility of manipulation and movement out of the way, is exceedingly simple and inexpensive.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a knock-down crate, the combination of the side and end walls of the crate, a bottom within the crate walls, and hangers pivoted to the bottom to engage portions of the crate walls the wall-engaging portion of the hangers consisting of outwardly turned hooks thereon. v

2. In a knock-clown crate, the combination of the side and end walls of the crate, a bottom within the crate walls, and hangers pivoted to the bottom to engage portions of the crate walls, the hangers being arranged in pairs connected to a common pivot rod or shaft the wall-engaging portion of the hangers consisting of outwardly turned hooks thereon.

3. In a knock-down crate, the combination of the side and end walls of the crate, a bottom within the crate walls, hangers pivoted to the bottom to engage portions of the crate walls, the hangers being arranged in pairs connected to a common pivot rod or shaft, and a cleat on the bottom extending over said shaft and journaling the same the shaft being confined between the cleat and the bottom.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY E. CLEMENT.

Witnesses J. H. NANNAMAKER, W. M. MOCREIGHT. 

